4 For questions or concerns about this report or its contents, please submit correspondences to the following individual: Paul K. Mills, Ph.D. M.P.H. Cancer Registry of Central California 1320 E. Shaw Ave., Suite 160 Fresno, CA Phone: (559) Fax: (559) Note: The prime contractor of the operation of the statewide California Cancer Registry is the Public Health Institute of Oakland, California. The California Health and Safety Code 210, 211.3, and mandate the statewide cancer reporting system. Cancer incidence data presented in this report have been collected under a subcontract with the California Health Collaborative. The ideas and opinions expressed herein are those of the author and no endorsement by the State of California, Department of Health Services, the Public Health Institute or the California Health Collaborative is intended or should be inferred. Confidentiality: Maintaining the confidentiality of persons whose cancers are reported to the California Cancer Registry through regional registries is mandated by law and is the highest priority in registry operations. Data presented in this report are not intended to be used for identification of individuals with cancer. Copyright information: All material in this report is in the public domain and may be reproduced or copied without permission. Citation as to the source, however, is appreciated. This report was produced using SEER*Stat software from the US National Cancer Institute. Suggested Citation: Mills PK, Yang RC, Dodge JL. (2007). Cancer Incidence and Mortality in the Central Valley Region, Fresno, CA: Cancer Registry of Central California.

5 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The preparation of a report such as this is a product of the efforts of hundreds of people, few of whom can be acknowledged here. First and foremost, however, are those dedicated to the identification of newly diagnosed cancer patients in the hospitals and laboratories throughout the region. Tumor registrars and physicians provide the first information concerning newly diagnosed disease in the population and it is they who provide the initial data for regional registries operations. More than fifty hospitals report to the Cancer Registry of Central California (including 8 American College of Surgeons approved hospitals) and space does not permit naming each. Their contributions are gratefully acknowledged. The staff of the Cancer Registry of Central California (CRCC) who painstakingly collect and manage the data from throughout the region have also been instrumental in the preparation of this report. In particular, Mignon Dryden, Gerri Totoian, CTR, Linda McKenzie, CTR, Kathleen Marineau, CTR, Earlena Perea, CTR, Melissa Lewis, CTR,Yvette Zavala, CTR, Carolyn Rube, CTR, Mary Axworthy, Tiffany Wright, Mark Cruz, Ardith Cortese, and Kathy White have been valuable resources. Staff at the California Cancer Registry (CCR) have provided support and technical expertise, which has allowed the incidence rates, presented in this report to be prepared. In particular, Mark Allen, M.S. and Dr. William Wright, Director of the CCR, have been instrumental in the preparation of this report. Finally, the efforts of Dr. John Young, former Director of the CCR, are gratefully acknowledged. It was he who was awarded the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention grant (No. U75-CCU ) which funding supported the preparation of this report. California incidence data have been collected under subcontract with the California Health Collaborative. The subcontract is supported by the California Department of Health Services as part of its statewide cancer-reporting program, mandated by Health and Safety Code Section The ideas and opinions expressed herein are those of the author, no endorsement of the State of California, Department of Health Services or the California Health Collaborative is intended or should be inferred.

8 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Each year more than 10,000 residents of the Central Valley are diagnosed with invasive cancer. Another 1,000 residents are diagnosed with in situ tumors of the breast, colon or skin melanoma. Approximately 4,000 deaths from cancer occur each year as well. Due to the rapid growth of the population in the Valley, these numbers will increase in the future despite the fact that rates are declining for many types of cancer. The rate of cancer is highest in African Americans, and followed closely by non-hispanic Whites. The rate has generally been higher in the male segment of the population. Rates tend to be lower in Hispanics and lowest in Asian/Pacific Islanders, although these ethnic groups continue to experience higher rates of certain cancers such as stomach, liver and cervix cancer. Overall, although the absolute number of cancer cases is increasing due to population growth, both incidence and mortality rates of cancer are declining and the decline is more apparent in men than women. However, the rates of cancer are increasing for several types of cancer including liver cancer, insitu breast cancer and in situ skin melanoma, thyroid cancer in women and testis cancer in men. Rates of cancer are declining for most smoking related cancers including oral cavity cancer, lung and bronchus cancer, and larynx cancer. The decreasing use/abuse of tobacco products over the past decade most likely explains the decrease in smoking-related cancer rates. For two major gender-specific cancers, prostrate and breast cancers are the leading form of cancer in males and females, respectively. Incidence rates are not changing over time for prostate but are decreasing for breast cancer although mortality rates appear to be slowly decreasing. As better diagnostic/screening tools become available, early treatment and better treatments are offered, we may expect these mortality rates to continue to decline and the number of cancer survivors to increase. Overall, the rate of cancer is lower in the Central Valley than elsewhere in the state. However, this is due to the larger percentage of Hispanics who reside in the Central Valley. Hispanics experience lower rates of cancer than non-hispanic Whites and African Americans. When examined on a race/ethnicity-specific basis, however, rates of cancer are approximately the same in the Valley as elsewhere in the state. The American Cancer Society has targeted a 50% reduction in cancer mortality and a 25% reduction in cancer incidence by the year Here in the Central Valley of California we are about half way towards achieving these goals but continued surveillance and risk factor reductions will be critical for achieving these goals. 1

9 INTRODUCTION This report represents a compilation of cancer incidence and mortality rates in the Central San Joaquin Valley of California. These numbers describe the distribution of cancer, as it occurs by characteristics of race/ethnicity, sex, cancer sites, and county of residence. Cancer prevention and control programs must be designed and implemented based upon accurate, complete and timely data. Population-based cancer registries allow the collection of such data and it is hoped that public health agencies throughout the valley will find the information contained in this report useful for planning purposes. Cancer is not one disease entity, but represents a collection of more than one hundred diseases, commonly characterized by uncontrolled cellular growth and proliferation, which invade surrounding tissues and organs. However, each type of cancer is unique with regards to its etiology, diagnosis, and treatment as well as in its preventability and control. Cancer prevention and control activities must be based upon the descriptive epidemiology of cancer in the entire population, as well as sub-segments of the population. It is the purpose of this report to present such accurate data in the hope that it will be used to measure the impact of cancer in the Central Valley. This report presents age-adjusted cancer incidence and mortality rates for the entire region. The report is organized by race/ethnicity, cancer sites, and sex. Next, the data are arranged by county, cancer sites, and sex. Due to changes made at the central cancer registry, cancer incidence and mortality rates presented in this report may not be comparable to those published previously. Rates for individual calendar years, by cancer sites and sex, are presented graphically (where data are available) to illustrate trend of the disease. Age-adjusted cancer incidence and mortality rates for the years 2000 through 2004 have been combined to yield annual average age-adjusted incidence and mortality rates*. This five-year period was chosen to allow adequate numbers of cases and deaths to accrue, thus insuring stable rates. Races/ethnicities included are Non-Hispanic Whites, Non-Hispanic Blacks, Hispanics, and Asian Pacific Islanders. Where the number of cancers available was not large enough to generate incidence or mortality rates, no rates were calculated. Incidence rates for in-situ cancers of the breast, colon-rectum, and melanoma of the skin are also reported. THE CENTRAL SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY The distribution of cancer in any human population reflects the demographic and ethnographic nature of the population. Cigarette and tobacco consumption patterns as well as other lifestyle practices, including but not limited to, dietary habits, fertility rates, and occupational exposure, all influence the nature and magnitude of cancer incidence. The Central Valley of California has several unique features in comparison to the rest of the state. These characteristics impact the rates of cancer, which are found in the counties that comprise the region. The Cancer Registry of Central California (CRCC) monitors cancer incidence in the nine counties of Central California, which comprise the San Joaquin Valley. The Valley is defined by the San Joaquin River, which flows from east to west, originating on the west slope of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. It then flows past the City of Fresno, turns northward, passes through the Sacramento Delta region, and empties into the San Francisco Bay. The Valley floor is mainly a semi-arid floodplain, which is very fertile and has been farmed extensively during the last 100 years. On the west, the Valley is bordered by the Coastal Range and on the south by the Tehachapi Mountains. Based on the latest figures from the Department of Finance, the populations of the different Valley counties have grown between 4-12% since Currently, the Valley is estimated to have about three million people. Most of the population centers are located in Fresno, Kern, Stanislaus, Tulare, and Merced Counties. Tuolumne and Mariposa Counties are sparsely populated. *Age-adjusted rates have been calculated to take account for the age-structure of the various sub-groups of the population in the Valley since cancer is a highly age-dependent disease. The U.S population was used as a standard for the age-adjustment. 2

10 In addition, Tuolumne and Mariposa Counties also have much older populations than other counties in the region. A large proportion of the population in the Valley is of Hispanic origin. In Tulare County, about 55% of the population is of Hispanic descent compared to 48% in Fresno, 42% in Kern, and 35% in Stanislaus Counties 2. This has implications for rates of stomach, liver, gallbladder, and cervix cancer in the region, as these cancers are more common in Hispanics than in the rest of the population (Table I). The large concentrations of various Asian subgroups in the Valley also have an impact on the rates of certain cancer sites. Rates of liver and cervix cancers may be affected by the 8% and 6% of Asian residents living in Fresno and Merced Counties 2, respectively. Japanese-Americans have resided in the Valley for generations, as have Chinese-Americans, though not in as large numbers. Recently, Southeast Asians have settled in the Valley, particularly the Hmong who experienced elevated risk of nasopharynx, liver, stomach, pancreas, cervix cancers and non-hodgkin s lymphoma 3. African-Americans comprise a relatively small proportion of the Valley s population 2, which may impact the overall rates of prostate and other types of cancer. The population of the Valley is also much poorer than the rest of the state. All counties in the Valley, except Tuolumne, have a higher percentage of people living below the poverty line than statewide. Unemployment rates in the Valley are greater than statewide, which probably contribute to lower median family income as well. Several counties in the region are rural in nature. This may have implications for access to care and for cancer screening issues. The fertility rates among women in the Valley are much higher than the rest of the state. The proportion of births to teenage mothers less than 18 years of age is greater in the Valley than elsewhere in California. As such, birth rates are higher in all counties, except Mariposa and Tuolumne, which have high percentages of retired population 2. These patterns are relevant to rates of breast, endometrial, ovary, and cervix cancers found in the region. Table I. Demographic characteristics of the Central Valley and California. Median Percent Population Family Below Unemployment Birth Fertility Mother County (2000) Income Age 65+ Hispanic Black Asian/PI Poverty (2004) Rate Rate < 18 Fresno 779,407 38, Kern 661,645 39, Kings 129,461 38, Madera 123,109 39, Mariposa 17,130 42, Merced 210,554 38, Stanislaus 446,997 44, Tulare 368,021 36, Tuolumne 54,501 44, California 33,871,648 53, Source: Health Data Summaries for California Counties Center for Health Statistics, Department of Health Services A report 4 from the California Department of Health Services/Tobacco Control Section reveals that the consumption of cigarettes and other tobacco products has been declining steadily, sometimes more than 50%, since However, data from the California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) indicates that smoking prevalence among men in the Central Valley are still generally higher than men in the entire state (Table II). This will impact rates of lung cancer and other smoking-related cancer sites. 3

11 Table II. Percentage of Smokers, by Gender and Smoking Status, in Central Valley and California. Male Female County Current Smoker Former Smoker Never Smoked Current Smoker Former Smoker Never Smoked Fresno Kern Kings Madera Merced Stanislaus Tulare Tuolumne/Mariposa California Source: California Health Interview Survey, UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, University of California, Los Angeles. Because of the fertile soil and abundant water supply available from the Sierra Nevada watershed, agriculture is the dominant industry in the region. Fresno County has been the leading producer of agricultural commodities in the nation with an annual production in excess of $4.0 billion dollars 5. The most common crops include grapes, tree fruits, and cotton. The dairy industry is also extensive. Pesticide use is also extensive and approximately 30 million pounds of pesticide (active ingredients) are used annually in Fresno County alone 6. These factors may impact cancer rates at various organ sites. Because many of the crops produced in the Valley require extensive manual labor, the use of seasonal and migrant workers is common. Approximately half of the 800,000 seasonal farm-workers in California work in the San Joaquin Valley and monitoring of cancer in these workers continues to pose special data collection challenges to the registry. METHODS SOURCE OF CANCER CASES AND DEATHS (NUMERATOR DATA) All newly diagnosed cancer cases and deaths among residents of the Central San Joaquin Valley of California between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2004, are included in this report. Except where otherwise noted, all cancers are invasive (have infiltrated the surrounding tissues). A case is defined here as a primary cancer, as distinguished from a cancer, which has metastasized from another site. Since individuals can have more than one primary cancer and each primary tumor counts as a case, the number of incident cases will be approximately three percent greater than the number of persons who were diagnosed with cancer. Cancer cases presented in this report were obtained from the January 2007 quarterly submission, submitted to the CCR on January 29, Cancer rates were generated using SEER Stat version For invasive cancer incidence rates, all non-duplicative, malignant and borderline cancers were included, except urinary bladder cancer which both malignant and in situ cancers were used. In situ cancer counts and rates are presented only for breast, colorectal and melanoma. For the purpose of incidence rate calculations, the numbers of newly diagnosed cancers have been categorized by cancer sites, races/ethnicities, and sex ( , inclusively), and by cancer site, county, and sex for all races/ethnicities combined ( ). The five-year reporting period has been selected to allow adequate numbers of cases to accrue at the county level, which will permit the calculation of stable incidence/mortality rates for individual counties and across four racial groups. Primary site and histologic type were coded and reported according to the International Classification of Diseases for Oncology, Second Edition (ICD-O-2). 7 The sites were grouped according to conventions of the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program of the National Cancer Institute (Appendix A). Deaths were classified according to the International Classification of Disease, Ninth Edition. 8 4

12 SOURCE OF POPULATION AT RISK (DENOMINATOR DATA) Annual mid-year population estimates by age, race/ethnicity, and sex for Non-Hispanic Whites, Non- Hispanic Blacks, Hispanics, and Asian Pacific Islanders were obtained from the California Department of Finance (DOF) Demographic Research Unit (2004). Population estimates are subject to periodic revisions, which may also change the age, race, and sex-specific population distribution for all reporting years. Therefore, the rates presented in this report may not be comparable to those reported previously. Additionally, one of the procedures of the California Cancer Registry (CCR) is the requirement that a county must have a minimum of 200,000 population-person-years in order to calculate the age-adjusted rates and a minimum of 10 cases for reporting the rates. The selection of a minimum number of cases and the types of cancer sites presented in this reported is based on the principal desire to share cancer information with the public in as much detail as possible, and yet, still insuring protection of privacy and confidentiality. DEFINITION OF RACE/ETHNICITY Race/ethnicity for both cases/deaths and population estimates are grouped into the mutually exclusive categories of Non-Hispanic Whites, Non-Hispanic Blacks, Hispanics, and Asian Pacific Islanders. Hispanic ethnicity is based on information on the medical record or death certificate, and on surname. Persons with race coded as White, Black, or unknown but with a last name on the 1980 Census list of 12,497 Hispanic surnames 9 were categorized as Hispanic for analyses in this report. The use of surname to identify Hispanics was adopted by the CCR due to observed under-reporting of Hispanic ethnicity on the medical record and death certificate. A study by the Northern California Cancer Center documented that the use of Hispanic surname, in conjunction with medical records, resulted in increased sensitivity and accuracy of Hispanic cancer rates. Overall statewide cancer incidence and mortality rates for Hispanics based on this definition are approximately 14% and 19% higher, respectively, than those based on medical record and death certificate alone. Rates for Non-Hispanic Whites are approximately 1.4% lower 10. SELECTION OF GEOGRAPHIC AREAS AND SPECIFIC RACE GROUPS The numbers of cases over the 5-year period (2000 to 2004) are organized by cancer sites, sex, racial groups, and counties for the Central Valley Region. Race and sex-specific counts and rates shown for the nine counties in the region were aggregated by the previously mentioned five-year period. Race and sex-specific counts are also shown for counties that meet the minimum requirement of 200,000 population-person-years or more, with average annual age-adjusted rates based on 10 or more cases or deaths. FORMAT OF TABLES AND CALCULATION OF RATES This report is organized into sections based on an alphabetical order of organ-specific cancer site. Incidence counts and rates are presented first and followed by deaths and mortality rates. Each section shows the tabular data for each cancer site. A standardized format for the tabular data presented within this report has been developed. For each of the 28 individual invasive cancer sites and for all invasive cancer sites combined as well as for three in-situ cancer sites, the following tabular data are presented: 1. A table displaying cancer counts and deaths for with annual average age-adjusted cancer incidence and mortality rates by races/ethnicities, sites, stage at diagnosis, both sexes, and separately for males and females. 5

13 2. A table displaying cancer counts and deaths for with annual average age-adjusted cancer incidence and mortality rates for all races/ethnicities combined by county, sites, stage at diagnosis, both sexes, and separately for males and females. 3. A graph displaying secular trends for the individual years from with annual average age-adjusted cancer incidence/mortality rates for all races combined by sites, and separately for males and females (where data are available). Age-adjusted rates are a weighted average of the age-specific rates, where the weights represent the age distribution of a standard population. Rates in this report are age-adjusted by the direct method 11 to the year 2000 US population standard. Age-adjustment allows meaningful comparisons of cancer risk to be made by controlling for differences in the age-distribution of two populations, which can profoundly affect cancer rates. CAUTIONS ON INTERPRETATION Incidence and mortality data in this report are based on cases of primary cancer and cancer deaths, which were diagnosed among Central Valley residents between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2004, and were reported to the CCR as of January 29, It is likely that additional cases and deaths will be reported for this time period. The reliability of race-specific rates depends on the accuracy of race classification in either cases or deaths and in population estimates. Some variation in race-specific rates may reflect misclassification bias, rather than a true difference in cancer risk. Population estimates are based on self-identification at the time of the 1990 and 2000 censuses. The Census Bureau reports that the 1990 census undercounted the total population by 1.6%, the Asian population by 2.3%, the Black population by 4.4%, and the Hispanic population by five percent 10. Race/ethnicity information for cancer cases is primarily based on information contained in the patient s medical record. This information may be based on self-identification by the patient, on the assumptions of an admission clerk or other medical personnel, or by an inference using race/ethnicity of parents, birthplace, maiden name or last name. Race/ethnicity for cancer deaths, on the other hand, is based on information on the death certificate, which is often provided by next-of-kin. The reporting of race/ethnicity in either system may be influenced by the race/ethnic distribution of the local population, by local interpretation of data collection guidelines, and other factors. While the use of surname lists partially compensates for misclassification of some race/ethnic groups, it is likely that some differences in race-specific rates reflect biases of classification, rather than true differences in risk. In comparing cancer rates among geographic areas of the Central Valley, it is important to keep in mind that a variety of factors can contribute to variation in cancer rates other than a true difference in the risk of developing cancer. Although rates are provided for all races combined, it is highly preferable, when possible, to compare county rates using the same race/ethnic group, since cancer rates vary markedly by race/ethnicity and the race/ethnic distribution can vary considerably from county to county. In addition, factors such as completeness of case identification, accuracy of population estimates, and differences in the reporting and/or recording of race/ethnicity can affect cancer rates. Although the CCR has made great efforts to standardize these factors, some differences are still likely to exist. In addition, some variation will occur in cancer rates simply by chance. Geographic variation should, therefore, be interpreted with caution, and should be used to generate, not test, hypotheses. Finally, statistically significant variation in rates can occur by chance alone, and additional assessment is required to separate chance occurrences from true public health problems. Statistical significance does not necessarily indicate the overall importance of the result. 6

15 SUMMARY OF RESULTS BY CANCER SITE All Cancer Sites Combined: Each year in the Central Valley about 10,000 people are diagnosed with one form of cancer or another and about 4,300 people will die from cancer. However, four forms of cancer contribute to more than half of this total; breast, prostate, lung and colon cancer. Overall risk of cancer is higher in men than in women and non-hispanic African Americans have the highest rates of cancer development followed non-hispanic Whites (NHW). Asians have the lowest risk of cancer development. African Americans also have the highest rate of death from cancer. Between 1988 and 2004, the incidence and mortality rates of cancer have decreased. This is due primarily to decreases in tobacco use in the population. Overall, 45% of people are diagnosed with cancer while it is still localized, meaning confined to the organ of origin, while 22% have regional disease, and 24% have their cancer diagnosed only after it has metastasized to distant locations. Brain and Nervous System: Approximately 170 people are diagnosed annually with cancer of the brain and nervous system in California s Central Valley. Each year the disease results in 100 deaths. Risk of brain and nervous system cancer is 25% higher in males than females and non-hispanic whites experience the highest rates while non-hispanic Asian/Pacific Islanders experience the lowest. Due to the small number of cases annually, incidence and mortality rates are erratic but not changing substantially overtime. Few risk factors for brain and nervous system cancer are known although exposure to ionizing radiation increases risk for disease. About 72% of brain cancers are diagnosed while still at the local stage, 20% while are at the regional stage and a very small percent are diagnosed with distant stage brain cancer. However, these figures differ by race/ethnicity and gender. Breast (In Situ): Each year about 280 women in the Valley are diagnosed with in situ breast cancer. Risk is greatest in non-hispanic White women and lowest among Hispanics and Asian/Pacific Islanders. Incidence of in situ breast cancer increased steadily through 1999 but has declined in recent years. Studies suggest this recent decline in breast cancer incidence resulted from discontinuing hormone replacement therapy in women. Age, genetics and family history of breast cancer all affect risk. Breast invasive: Invasive breast cancer is the most common female cancer in the Central Valley with over 1500 newly diagnosed cases and 300 deaths annually. Breast cancer incidence rates vary greatly by ethnicity with Non-Hispanic Whites at greatest risk and Asian/Pacific Islanders at lowest risk for developing the disease. A majority of breast cancer cases are diagnosed at an early disease stage (local) regardless of race/ethnicity which is likely due to successful breast cancer screening programs. Little change in mortality was observed from 1988 to 2004 although incidence rates have declined in recent years. Studies suggest this recent decline in breast cancer incidence resulted from discontinuing hormone replacement therapy in women. Cervix Uteri: While several factors have been identified to increase the risk of cervical cancer, the most influential etiologic agent is infection with human papillomavirus. Both incidence and mortality rates have been on the downward trend since Between , the annual average number of cervical cancer cases diagnosed among women in the Valley declined dramatically. This change may be attributed to better screening tools and/or preventive services. However, the number of deaths had remained relatively constant at about 36 deaths per year. Hispanic females experienced the highest incidence rate but non-hispanic Black women experienced the highest mortality rate. Non-Hispanic White females experience the lowest incidence and mortality rates. Madera, Kern, and Tulare counties have the highest incidence rates of cervical cancer. Colon Excluding Rectum: Within the Central Valley, approximately 800 cases of colon cancer are diagnosed each year and the disease results in nearly 350 deaths annually. Men are at 25% greater risk of developing colon cancer than women. Asian/Pacific Islander populations have the lowest risk. Most cases are diagnosed at local and regional stages. However, with the colon cancer screening programs in place, the proportion of remote stage cases should be even lower particularly among Asian/Pacific Islander populations where 27.0% of cases are diagnosed at remote disease stage. Over time, there is a slight downward trend in colon cancer incidence and mortality rates. Risk for developing colon cancer 8

16 SUMMARY OF RESULTS BY CANCER SITE increases with a family history of the disease, a history of polyps and bowel disease, increasing age, a diet high in fat, heavy alcohol use and smoking. Colon and Rectum (In Situ): Fifty cases of in situ colon and rectum cancer are diagnosed each year. Risk is 125% higher in men than in women. Non-Hispanic White populations observe the greatest incidence rates while essentially no cases are diagnosed in non-hispanic Black populations. As screenable cancers, differences in screening practices by ethnicity likely affect incidence of this early stage diagnosis (in situ cancers are at the earliest stage). No appreciable change in incidence or mortality rates occurred from 1988 to In situ colon and rectum cancer risk increases with a family history of the disease, a history of polyps and bowel disease, increasing age, a diet high in fat, heavy alcohol use and smoking. Colon and Rectum (Invasive): Invasive colon and rectum cancer is diagnosed in 1100 people and results in 400 deaths annually in the Central Valley. Males are at 40% greater risk of disease than females. Diagnoses are most frequent in non-hispanic Blacks and Whites. Most cases are diagnosed at local and regional stages but the proportion of remote stage diagnoses should be lower given that colon and rectal cancers are screenable. A slight decrease in incidence was observed from 1988 through 2004 although mortality rates remained unchanged. Family history of the disease, a history of polyps and bowel disease, increasing age, a diet high in fat, heavy alcohol use and smoking all increase risk of developing invasive colon or rectum cancer. Corpus and Uterus: Cancer of the corpus and uterus contributes to 256 new cases and about 45 deaths each year in the Central Valley. Non-Hispanic white females experience the greatest risk for corpus and uterine cancers. Incidence rates have declined over the last six years while mortality rates remain stable. Risk of corpus and uterine cancer increases with early age at menarche, late age at menopause, obesity, Tamoxifen use, estrogen replacement therapy, a diet high in fat, diabetes and a family history of the disease. The majority of the disease was diagnosed at the local stage among all racial groups in all Central Valley counties. Esophagus: From , an average of 103 cases of esophageal cancer were diagnosed in the Central Valley each year. During the same time period, an average of 92 people died from disease each year. Non-Hispanic Blacks and males experienced the highest incidence and mortality rates. While incidence and mortality rates have remained relatively stable for females, both incidence and mortality rates for males have been inching up since Gallbladder: Cancer of the gallbladder is a rare disease that affects women more than men. Hispanics experienced higher incidence and death rates than other racial groups. Each year an average of 28 cases of gallbladder cancer were diagnosed in the Central Valley Region between Hodgkin s Lymphoma: Hodgkin s lymphoma strikes about 60 people each year in the San Joaquin Valley and claims about 13 lives. Rates are higher in non-hispanic Whites and Hispanics than other ethnic groups and are somewhat higher in males than females. Nearly all Hodgkin s lymphoma cases are nodal. Incidence rates appear to be unchanged over time in both males and females. Hodgkin s lymphoma is a disease of young aged people. Kaposi s Sarcoma: Relatively few cases of Kaposi sarcoma were diagnosed in the Central Valley and the incidence rate is quite low at about 0.5/100,000. Most often these cases are diagnosed while the disease remains localized. The great majority of cases occurred in men and the rate is declining. Effective treatment of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection with highly active antiretroviral drugs probably explains this decrease in Kaposi sarcoma. 9

17 SUMMARY OF RESULTS BY CANCER SITE Kidney and Renal Pelvis: Just over 300 kidney and renal pelvic cancer cases are diagnosed each year in the Central Valley. The disease results in about 100 deaths annually. Men are at 90% greater risk of developing kidney and renal pelvic cancer than women. Incidence is similar across the different racial and ethnic groups with the exception of the Asian/Pacific Islanders who experience a much low incidence of this disease. Diagnosis occurs during the local disease stage for 60-70% of cases although regional differences are observed. Incidence rates are increasing slightly in both men and women while mortality rates remain relatively stable. Smoking, being overweight, occupational exposures including asbestos, kidney disease and male gender increase risk of developing kidney and renal pelvic cancer. Larynx: Laryngeal cancer is more common in men than women. While incidence and mortality rates of laryngeal cancer in the male population of the Central Valley Region have been decreasing since 1988, the incidence rate in women has remained relatively stable. Between an average of 77 people were diagnosed with cancer of the larynx (voice box) each year. During this time period, an average of 25 deaths from laryngeal cancer also occurred. Risk factors of laryngeal cancer include long-term use and abuse of tobacco and alcohol products. Overall, NH Blacks experienced higher incidence and death rates than any other racial groups. Among many racial groups in the Central Valley, laryngeal cancer was more frequently diagnosed at the local stage of disease. Leukemia: Each year in the Central Valley, about 300 people are diagnosed with leukemia and about 170 people die from this disease. Risk of leukemia is about 60% higher in males than in females and risk is highest in non-hispanic whites and lowest in Hispanics. The rate of newly diagnosed leukemia and death rates appear to be slowly declining over time. Cigarette smoking, environmental chemicals and certain genetic factors may increase risk of leukemia. Males experience slightly higher percentages of both lymphocytic as well as myeloid and monocytic leukemia than female. Liver: Between , an average of 160 cases of liver cancer were diagnosed in the Central Valley each year. Liver cancer is one of the most rapidly fatal diseases. From , the disease killed an average of 118 people per year. Risk factors for liver cancer include infections with the hepatitis B (HBV) and/or hepatitis C (HCV) viruses, liver cirrhosis, and long-term consumption of foods tainted with aflatoxin. Asian Pacific Islanders have the highest incidence and mortality rates. This is probably due to the fact that Asian Pacific Islanders came from HBV and/or HCV-endemic regions. NH Whites have the lowest incidence and mortality rates. Since 1988, both incidence and mortality of the disease have increased significantly. Incidence and mortality rates are highest in Fresno and Merced Counties due to the higher proportion of Asian Pacific Islanders in those counties. Lung and Bronchus: Lung and bronchus cancer is one of the leading types of cancer. Between , an average of 1,483 cases of lung and bronchus cancer were diagnosed each year in the Central Valley Region. An average of 1,162 people died per year during the same time period. Incidence and mortality rates of lung and bronchus cancer in male exceed those in female. Overall, NH Whites experience higher incidence and mortality rates. Among males, NH Black males have the highest incidence and mortality rates. Among females, NH White females have the highest incidence and mortality rates. While the disease has been on the decline over the past 15 years for men, lung and bronchus cancer has remained relatively stable in women. In both males and females, the disease was diagnosed at the remote stage. Melanoma (In Situ): Each year nearly 300 cases of melanoma of the skin are diagnosed at the in situ stage in the Central Valley. This early stage at diagnosis infrequently results in death. Risk of disease is 60% higher in men than women and most frequent in non-hispanic Whites. Incidence rates have declined over the past five years. Risk of developing melanoma in situ increases with fair skin, exposure to ultraviolet radiation, having many or large moles, and a family history of the disease. 10

18 SUMMARY OF RESULTS BY CANCER SITE Melanoma (Invasive): Annually, invasive melanoma of the skin is diagnosed in 400 Central Valley residents and is responsible for 60 deaths. Men are at 60% greater risk of acquiring the disease than women. The disease infrequently affects non-hispanic Blacks and Asian/Pacific Islanders. Over 70% of all melanomas in the region were diagnosed at the local stage. No appreciable change in incidence or mortality occurred over the observation period. Fair skin, exposure to ultraviolet radiation, having many or large moles, and a family history of the disease increases risk for invasive melanoma. Mesothelioma: In the last five reporting years, an average of 25 cases of mesothelioma were diagnosed annually among residents of the Central Valley Region. During the same time period, the disease killed an average of 18 people in the valley each year. Non-specific disease symptoms and lack of screening method make mesothelioma difficult to diagnose. As a result the majority of cases are diagnosed at the remote stage. Incidence and mortality rates are highest in non-hispanic Whites and men. Most mesothelioma cases are related to occupational or residential asbestos exposure. Multiple Myeloma: There are about 110 newly diagnosed cases of multiple myeloma each year in the Central Valley and 80 myeloma associated deaths. The incidence rates of this disease are highest among African Americans and in males and peak in the older age groups. In both male and female groups, the majority of the disease is diagnosed at remote or distant stage. Non-Hodgkin s Lymphoma: There are more than 400 new cases of non-hodgkin s Lymphoma (NHL) diagnosed each year in the Central Valley and about 180 deaths from this disease. Men are at 40% higher risk of NHL compared to women and non-hispanic whites experience the highest incidence rates. Asians have the lowest rates of NHL. Both incidence and mortality rates are stable over time. Males experience slightly higher percentages of both nodal and extranodal types of NHL than female. Oral Cavity and Pharynx: From an annual average of 242 cases of cancer of the oral cavity and pharynx were diagnosed in the Central Valley. During the same time period an average of about 71 people died from the disease each year. Risk is 2.5 times greater in men compared to women. Among men, non-hispanic Blacks are at greatest disease risk and non-hispanic Asian/Pacific Islanders are at lowest risk. Primary risk factors for developing oral cavity and pharynx cancer include tobacco use and heavy alcohol use. In males, about half of the disease were diagnosed at the remote stage. Ovarian Cancer: Ovarian cancer occurs in about 170 Valley women each year and 120 women die from this disease. Risk is highest in white, non-hispanic women and in Hispanic women while African American women experience lower risk for this disease. Although incidence rates appeared to be decreasing between 1997 and 2000, they have increased in the last three years. Mortality rate from ovarian cancer is not changing. A family history of ovarian cancer increases risk of this disease while multiple pregnancies and breast-feeding infants protect against it. Unfortunately, only about 14% of ovarian cancers are diagnosed at the local stage, while 16% are diagnosed at the regional stage, and 60% are diagnosed only after the cancer has spread to distant organs. Pancreas: Approximately 250 newly diagnosed pancreatic cancer cases and 236 deaths occur annually in the Central Valley. Risk is elevated by 24% in men and incidence is similar across the four ethnic groups. Although incidence and mortality rates are erratic, no appreciable changes were observed from 1988 through Increasing age, smoking and diet high in animal products may increase risk for pancreatic cancer. In most racial groups, the disease was diagnose more frequently in males and at the remote stage. Prostate Cancer: Prostate cancer is the leading form of cancer among men in the Central Valley and each year there are 1500 men diagnosed with prostate cancer and there are more than 200 deaths. Rates are highest among African American men while Asian men experience lowest rates. There was a peak in prostate cancer incidence in the early 1990 s following the introduction of Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) 11

19 SUMMARY OF RESULTS BY CANCER SITE screening tests for prostate cancer although incidence rates are currently stable. Mortality rates from prostate cancer, however, are decreasing. Besides ethnicity, the only strong risk factor for prostate cancer is a family history of the disease. About 80% of prostate cancer is diagnosed while it is still localized, another 11% after it is regionally spread and 5% only after it has spread to distant organs. Rectum and Rectosigmoid: Approximately 340 cases of rectum and rectosigmoid cancer are diagnosed each year. About 75 cases result in death annually. Disease risk is 75% higher in men than women and rates are similar across the various race/ethnic groups. Screening regimens make diagnosis of this cancer at early disease stages frequent although the Asian/Pacific Islander population sees lower proportions of local diagnoses. Family history of the disease, a history of polyps and bowel disease, increasing age, a diet high in fat, heavy alcohol use and smoking all increase risk of developing rectum and rectosigmoid cancer. Stomach: Between , an annual average of 190 cases of stomach cancer were diagnosed in the Central Valley Region. In the last five years, stomach cancer killed an average of 118 people in the valley each year. Cancer of the stomach is rare in the US but quite common in developing countries. Several risk factors have been identified for stomach cancer but the most influential is infection with Helicobacter pylori. As with most cancer, stomach cancer afflicts males more than women. NH Blacks appear to have the highest incidence and mortality rates, followed by Asian Pacific Islanders. More than half of the disease were diagnosed at the regional and remote stages in both genders of all racial groups. Testicular Cancer: Testis cancer is a rare cancer that occurs primarily in young men. Each year there are about 80 cases of testicular cancer diagnosed in the Central Valley and few deaths. Rates are highest in White, non-hispanic men and Hispanic men while African American and Asians have much lower rates. Unfortunately, for unknown reasons, the incidence rate of this cancer appears to be increasing over time. The only established risk factors for this disease are a history of undescended testes and a family history of the disease. About two thirds of testis cancer cases are diagnosed with local disease, another 16 % with regional disease and 14% with distant spread at the time of diagnosis. Thyroid: Each year about 200 cases of thyroid cancer are diagnosed in the Central Valley although few deaths from this cancer occur. It is one of the few cancers which is more common in women than men and rates appear to be highest among non-hispanic White (NHW) females. The rates of thyroid cancer are increasing rapidly over time, and it is unclear if this is due to some underlying biological phenomenon or to increased detection with more sophisticated diagnostic techniques. About two thirds of thyroid cancers are diagnosed while still at the local stage which translates into good survival with the disease. Urinary Bladder: Urinary bladder cancer accounts for about 440 newly diagnosed cancer cases and 96 deaths annually in the Central Valley. The disease primarily occurs in men where incidence is four times greater than observed in women. Over 70% of cases are diagnosed at the local stage however these percentages vary greatly by race with the lowest percentage of local diagnoses observed in Asian/Pacific Islanders. Since 1988, incidence and mortality rates have remained relatively stable. Risk of urinary bladder cancer increases with smoking, occupational exposure to aromatic amines and male gender. 12

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